Tractor



1. M. HOWE.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-20. I918.

Patented J uly 20, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Patented July 20, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 20. I918.

gig-ll J. M. HOWE.

TRACTOR.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV-20, 1918. 1,347, 163, I Patented July 20, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES JAMES M. HowE, or CLEVELAND ENGINEERING COMPANY, or

HEIGHTS, oHIo, AssIeNoa'ro THE s. w. H. CLEVELAND, oHIo, A GOPARTNERSHIP.

TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20,1920.

Application filed November 20, 1918. Serial No. 263,322.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that 1, JAMES M. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tractors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a tractor adapted to haul various trailers, farm implements, etc. The invention is particularly concerned with the frame of the tractor, which, while being light and cheap, is very strong and stiff and forms in effect a cantaliver pivoted at the rear or driving axle and adapted, if necessary, to support the entire Weight in front of such axle. To this end I have provided a rear housing for the transmission and differential gearing and having suitable axle sleeves, this housing being preferably a casting, and a separate forward extension secured directly thereto and carrying the engine. This forward extension is of pressed metal construction having as its rear end a bulk head which abuts and is removably connected tothe forward end of the gearing housing. By this means I cheapen and lighten the frame, and am enabled to provide unusual accessibility for the various mechanisms carried. i l

The above mentioned features, and others of advantage, Will be apparent from the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, and the detailed description thereof hereinafter, given. The essential novel characteristics of the invention are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of my tractor; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of a portion of the gear housing and the extension frame, being on a larger scale than Figs. 1 or 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the frame parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a rear endelevation of the extension frame; Fig. 6 is a plan of the extension frame and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same, these views being intermediately broken away; Fig. 8 is a plan of the gearing housing and Fig. 9 is a front end elevation of the same looking toward the rear.

Referring first to Fi s. 1 and 2, 1O indicates the rear or gear housing, 11 the axle housings secured to its opposite sides, 12 the ward end pressed metal front extension of the frame abutting and secured to the front end of the gear housing. 13 indicates the rear Wheels, the axles of which, not shown, extend through the housings 11 into the gear frame and are thereconnected through the differential and transmission mechanisms .with the propeller shaft 15. This shaft is connected by a flexible coupling 16 with the intermediate shaft 17, which is connected by a clutch 18 with the fly wheel 19 on the engine shaft. 20 indicates the engine which has lateral arms 23 mounted on brackets 22 carried by the extension frame 12.

The front axle 24 is secured to this extenslon frame 12 by a transverse leaf spring, 29. 25 indicates the front wheels, shown as connected by knuckles with the axle, and 26 and 27 and 28 the steering gear (intermediately broken away from Fig. 1), leading from the steering knuckles tothe steering wheel. 30 indicates brace rods leading from the front axle to a ball and socket joint 31 carried by the extension frame. 32 designates the hood over the engine, 33 thetank for fuel at the rear of this hood, and 34 the seat for the driver. Suitable controlling levers, not shown, are intended to be within easy access from this seat. The drawings show at 35 a belt pulley which may be clutched with the engine and serve to drive any desired machinery when the tractor is stationary.

Referring now more 3 to 9 inclusive, the body of the particularly to Figs. showing the frame in detail, casing 10 is a box-like member (preferably a single integral casting) having side walls and 41, a front wall 42, rear wall 43 and a bottom 44. This casting has on its side walls suitable bosses as 45 and 46 for transverse shafts, external seats 47 for securing the axle housing, internal seats as 48 for carrying the tran mission gearing, and suitable transverse stjfiening ribs 49. There is also a seat 50 (Fig. 9) at the forfor attachment of the housing 52 which carries the bearing for the propeller shaft.

It will be seen that the rear housing described is a self contained structure carrying the differential gearing, the transmission gearing and the gearing to the pulley 35. The gearing itself is not shown. The parts within this rear frame are covered by channel shaped sides 60 and 61, a channel.

shaped front 62, and a .rear end bulk head composed of one or more plates 63, 64. This bulk head is effectively secured to the forward end of the gear housing 10. As shown the securing is effected by cap screws 75 passing through the bulk head into the bosses 58 on the forward face of the. front wall 42 ofthe gear housing.

As shown, the bulk head comprises two transverse plates riveted together, the plate 63 being flanged at its ends as shown at 71 and 7 2 and there riveted to the webs of the side members 60 and 61, and having top and bottom flanges 69 and 70. Suitable gussets 65 are riveted to the top flanges 66 of the side members 60 and 61 and to the top flange 69 on the plate 63. Intermediate gussets 68 are also provided between the plate 64 and the webs of the side beams 60 and 61.

The forward frame is further transversely braced by a sheet metal downwardly-facing trough-like member 80 which is bowed downwardly and carries adjacent to the center a pivot 81 for the forward spring. This member has its end portions outwardly flanged against the webs of the beams 60 and 61 as shown at 83. 84 are gusset plates riv- 86 to the bulk head, being secured to a flange eted to the beam 80 and the flanges 66. Near the rear end of the forward frame is a transverse channel shaped brace 86 (the top flange 85 of which is centrally depressed to clear rotating parts). This .brace is flan ed at its ends and v is riveted to the webs of the side members 60 and 61. A suitable bottom plate 87 extends between the brace 88 at the lower edge of the brace and to the flange 7 O.

It will be seen that the forward frame member is a self-contained structure made of sheet metal and thus light but strong and stiff. Though readily disconnectible from the gear housing it constitutes in practice a rigid extension thereof, adapted to effectively support all of the weight upon it, as well as the axle and front wheels when the forward end of the machinetends to lift from the ground.

As heretofore stated the engine is mounted on brackets 22 carried by the front frame. These brackets are shown as sheet metal stirrups having top portions .90, and downwardly extending arms with lateral projections 91 therefrom which lie beneath the channel flanges 66 and are flanged at their ends at 92, whereby they abut and are riveted to the webs o the channels60i, and 61. The lateral projections 91 also have their upper edges flanged over, as illustrated at 94, these flanged portions extendin beneath and being riveted to the channel anges 66. There being two pairs of these stirrups, four points of support are provided for the engine, which is shown as having its laterally extending arms 23 resting on and secured to these four stirrups. 1

As heretofore stated the cross beam or bolster 80 carries the seat for the forward spring, beneath which is the axle 24. This axle 24 has holes through it, enabling the securing to the axle of the forward ends of the diagonal brace rods 30. The rear ends of these rods join in a fitting 96 which has on its rear end a ball occupying the socket casing 31 heretofore mentioned, which is secured to the cross member 86. The cross bar 86 is further braced to take the thrust from these brace rods by means of the channel shaped trough member 98 riveted to the channel bar 86 and to the bulk head plates 63 and 64.

The front frame it will be seen, is not only strong, stiff and light, but it is largely open to a low convenient access to all of the parts. One of the advantages with my construction is the ease of accessibility. The tank is made readily removable and when it is taken off it exposes the steering gearing, the coupling and the clutch, and these units may be removed without disturbing the motor or necessitating jacks under the frame. The removal of the top plates of the gear housing exposes the differential and transmission gears. By simply abutting the front frame against the rear frame and bolting it thereto, I provide ready separability enabling the machine to be conveniently taken apart for shi ing or repairs.

aving thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a tractor, a running frame consisting of a rear member housing the gearing and a forward extension member carrying the engine and secured independently of the engine frame directly to the front end of the rear member, whereby the engine may be removed from the running frame without dismembering said frame.

2. In -a tractor, the combination, with front and rear wheels, of a running frame forming the connection between the front and rear wheelsand comprising a rear boxlike casting, a sheet metal forward extension directly secured to said casting, and a motor carried by the forward extension and having its frame independent of the connection between the forward extension and the casing.

3. In a tractor, a frame comprising a gear 13( the bulk head and the housing supported by the rearwlieels and.

a forward extension having as its rear end a bulk head across the front end of the gear housing and secured directly thereto, and an engine removably supported by said extension independently of said bulk head.

4. In a tractor, the combination, with the Wheels, of a running frame, comprising a casing for the differential and transmission, and a forward extension for the engine and front axle secured to the front end of said casing, said extension having pressed metal sides and having a bulk head across its rear end, which bulk head abuts and is secured to the front end of the gear casing, and an engine supported by, said extension and removable independent of said bulk head.

5. In a tractor, the combination, with front and rear wheels, carrying housings for the rear live axle sections and the gearing and connected to the front axle, said frame comprising a boxlike casing adapted to contain the gearing, lateral-housings for the live axle sections, and a sheet metal forward extension adapted to carry the motor and secured to said boxlike frame independently of the motor.

6. In a. tractor, the combination of a casting constituting the casing for the differen tial and transmission, housings for the live axle sections secured to opposite sides of said casting, and sion comprising channel-shaped side beams, cross braces and a rear bulk head, said bulk head abutting and being directly secured to the front end of the casting, an engine carried by the forward extension independently of the bulk head, and a clutch between the engine and the bulk head. In a tractor, the combination of a casting constituting the casing for the differential and transmission, housings for the live axle sections secured to opposite sides of said casting, and a forward extension comprising side beams, cross braces and a rear bulk ing directly secured to the frontend of the casting, and having its side members forming substantially a continuation of the sides of the casting, and reinforcements connecting the bulk head with such side members, and an engine carriedby said forward e tension independently of the bulk head.

8. In a tractor, a framecomprising a casting for the differential, housings for the live axles secured to the opposite sides of said casting, a pair of channel beams with their flanges facing inwardly and connected at the rearend by a bulk head, thus providing an open front extensionof the frame, said extension abutting the end of the casting and secured thereto, means connected with side members for stiffening the bulk head, brackets secured to the channel beams and an engine supported of a running framea pressed metal forward extenhead, said bulk head abutting and be- "from said rear member and secured independently on said brackets head, and a clutch between the engine and the bulk head.

9. In a tractor, the combination of a frame comprising a rear casing for the differential and transmission and housings for the live axle sections, a forward extension of the frame directly connected with said casing, said forward extension having sheet metal side beams and a cross brace, a front axle connected with the extension frame, brace rods leading rearward from said axle, and a seat for the rear ends of the brace rods carried by said cross brace.

10. The combination, with the rear wheels and live axle sections, of a housing for the differential, housings on the opposite sides of the gear housing and containing said live axle sections, said gear housing having side Walls, a front wall and a bottom inclining forwardly toward the front, and a front extension frame carrying the engine and connected with the front axle, said extension frame having side walls adapted to register with the side walls of the gear casing and having their lower edges continuing the incline of the bottom of the gear casing.

11. The combination, with the rear wheels and live axle sections of a running frame 'cantalivered about the rear wheel axis and comprising a housing for the differential, housings the live axle sections, and a front extension, said gear housing having side walls, a front wall and a bottom inclining forwardly toward the front, and the front extension frame carrying the engine and connected with the front axle, said extension frame having a rear end abutting the front end of the gear housing and having laterally spaced sill members the sides of'which register with the side walls of the gear casing, said side members of the extension frame being inwardly facing channels having their top flanges horizontal and thelr lower flan es inclining forwardly toward the front of t e machine. I

12. In a tractor, a running frame comprisinga rear member housing the gearing and. .a' forward extension member arrying, the motor and secured to the rear member independently of the motor frame, whereby said forward extension member may be disjoined at a point remote from said motor-frame,

13. In a-tractor, a running frame consisting of two parts comprising a' rear casting housing the gearin and a forward sheet metal extension member carrying the engine of the engine frame to said casting.

14:. In a tractor, the combination of a running frame comprising a rear box-like member adapted to house the gearing and a forward extension secured to the box-like memand spaced from the bulk on the opposite sides thereof for spaced apart, an engine supported by the extension some distance in front of the boxvlike member. and a clutch in the open space within the side members of the front extension and between the engine and box-like member, which clutch can be removed without disturbing the engine or the connection between the forward extension and the gear housin 15. l n a tractor, the combination of a running frame comprising a rear box-like member adapted to house the gearing and carrying on its forward end a bearing for the propeller shaft, and, a forward extension secured to the box-like member, an engine supported by the extension some distance in front of the box-like member, and independently of it, a clutch, and a separable coupling between the clutch and the propeller shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES M. HOWE. 

